Watershed Protection

Whatever is happening within the watershed affects the quality of water within the watershed and the water that flows out. Watershed protection means protecting all our water resources - lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, and wetlands and groundwater. These resources are all connected. They sustain us and the entire ecological system that we live in - all terrestrial and aquatic life. These resources also supply our drinking water and provide incredible recreational opportunities.

We are fortunate the Lake Sunapee watershed is significantly forested (approximately 75% or more), and not overly developed, though there are areas of concentrated development. Forested land (versus densely developed or high intensity agricultural use) helps to maintain higher quality water by functioning as a kind of water filter, treatment and storage device. Higher levels of development with significant areas of impervious surfaces (pavement, rooftops, etc.) and potential contamination sources, degrade water quality.

Resource Protection Practices

LSPA promotes good water resource protection practices through education and action by:

Providing advice on the handling and disposal of potential contaminants, including household products and personal care products such as cleansers, soaps, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals (prescription and non-prescription).

Guiding residents toward low impact landscaping and gardening.

Encouraging chemical-free maintenance of lawns.

Promoting the care and maintenance of septic systems.

Providing advice on how to reduce or eliminate runoff from agriculture and forestry activities.

Promoting how to effectively manage stormwater on site for businesses and homeowners.

Promoting the use of low-impact development methods for land, building construction and maintenance.

Providing advice on how to reduce the impact of road building, maintenance and de-icing.

These practices need to be utilized throughout the watershed, not just in riparian (adjacent to water) areas.

Click here to access LSPA's Library that includes a variety of educational materials on many of the subjects listed above.

LSPA Watershed Committee

Watershed protection also means effective and enforceable state and municipal regulations and ordinances. State laws and local ordinances are in place not only to protect your drinking water, but also to help maintain public and private property values and individual quality of life. The LSPA Watershed Committee was formed to work on ways to improve local compliance.

The mission of the committee is to actively protect water quality and the watershed in the Lake Sunapee region through collaboration with individuals, non-profits, business representatives, towns and other stakeholders.

The goals of the committee are to:

Help educate and engage the public concerning issues that affect water quality and the watershed.

Research and track state and local legislation and ordinances that affect watershed conservation.

Promote responsible enforcement.

Promote responsible land use and water protection regulations with the towns.

Work toward crafting a unified ordinance that all three Lake Sunapee towns would adopt with regard to the shore land and watershed.

Promote the resulting unified ordinance.

The LSPA Watershed Committee consists of members from the lake communities as well as LSPA Board members and staff. We also have natural resource professionals such as foresters and environmental engineers available to advise our committee.

The committee includes present and former members of municipal planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, conservation commissions and select boards. We also have members experienced in regional planning, public works and engineering.

Currently, the committee is working with the municipalities to improve compliance of water resource protection ordinances in the watershed.

Common Reed - Courtesy of NH DES

Terrestrial Invasive Species: how they affect the watershed

Forested areas are extremely important for maintaining quality water resources in the northeast. Forests act as natural water filters, water storage, and flow control devices. If forest ecosystems are significantly disrupted, these water functions can be disrupted.

One way disruption can occur is from invasive insects. In general, animal species have evolved with - and adapted to -native plant communities. When an invasive species moves in, habitats and food sources can be altered and sometimes entire ecosystems are altered. Native animal and plant species sometimes adapt. However, sometimes the native species cannot adapt and they may be eliminated from the ecosystem.

Emerald Ash Borer - Courtesy of David Cappaert, Michigan State

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid -Courtesy NH Department of Agriculture

Asian Longhorned Beetle - Courtesy of UNH Cooperative Extension

Three invasive insects, emerald ash borer,hemlock woolly adelgid and Asian longhorned beetle are of particular concern. These species can seriously alter a forest ecosystem by damaging or killing ash trees, hemlocks or, in the case of the Asian longhorned beetle, about 25 different tree species. Two of these insect species have already arrived in New Hampshire - the emerald ash borer (click here to see map) and the woolly adelgid.